How Philippine police have coordinated extrajudicial killings of drug offenders and absorbed notorious ‘Davao Death Squad’
The report described a reward system that offers cash payments to those who execute the suspects, with the money coming from government and “illegal” funds
Philippine police have secretly implemented a systematic programme to coordinate its execution of suspected drug offenders, according to new details of a report authored by a retired intelligence officer. The report also alleges police have absorbed the infamous “Davao Death Squad”, allegedly run by President Rodrigo Duterte during his 22 years as mayor of the southern city.
The South China Morning Post obtained a copy of the 26-page report by the retired officer who earlier this week shared his views, based on accounts from 12 serving and five retired officers up to the rank of chief superintendent.
Killing by vigilante forces is definitely non-existent. It is PNP operatives riding in tandem who carry out [extrajudicial killings]
The report claimed station commanders and their Philippine National Police (PNP) superiors would hold weekly meetings to coordinate efforts in locating and subsequently killing suspects. After targets had been located, police station chiefs would then coordinate with chairmen of Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Councils – the government’s village-level offices – to shut down closed-circuit TV cameras before executions took place.
“Killing by vigilante forces is definitely non-existent. It is PNP operatives riding in tandem who carry out [extrajudicial killings],” the report claimed. “Although there are several thugs who are police assets used for [the killings], these thugs serve as collectors, informants or auxiliaries, and are provided with budgetary funds to defray their expenses.”
The vigilante killings and bungled police operations leading to deaths of drug suspects were just “hoaxes”, it added.
Part of the report was first published by Reuters on Tuesday.